Microplastic-induced hypertension in rats: A two-hit model exploring oxidative stress and gut microbiota

Abstract

Microplastic particulates (MPs) accumulate widely in ecosystems and pose health risks to both pregnant women and their offspring. Studies have detected MPs in the kidneys and fetal tissues, but it remains unclear whether maternal MP exposure worsens postnatal MP-induced hypertension and kidney disease. This study examined male rat offspring (n = 8/group) divided into four exposure groups: control, indirect (maternal exposure to 1 mg/L MPs during gestation and lactation), direct (offspring exposure to 1 mg/L MPs from 3 to 16 weeks), and combined exposure. By 16 weeks, both maternal and postnatal MP exposure elevated blood pressure (BP), with a synergistic effect observed in the combined exposure group. Maternal MP exposure also increased plasma creatinine levels, indicating kidney dysfunction. Oxidative kidney damage was associated with both direct and indirect MP exposure. Additionally, combined exposure disrupted gut microbiota, reducing species richness and evenness, and downregulated renal angiotensin II type 2 receptor expression, a key regulator of BP. These findings underscore the long-term health risks of MPs, emphasizing their role in the developmental origins of hypertension and kidney disease.